Books That Will Make (Or Break) Your Perfect Summer

Okay so maybe it isn't officially summer (according to Google) yet but the weather would say otherwise. It's been 80 degrees every day for the past week and if that's not summer, I don't know what is! If you haven't been following me elsewhere, you wouldn't know that I made it a goal of mine to read more contemporary books this year than any other genre. I know, I know. It's a little far-fetched, considering my reading tastes but I have no doubt in that I will success. I mean, just look at all these new contemporary releases. I'm tempted.

Morgan Matson makes any summer reading list. After her most recent novel The Unexpected Everything released in the beginning of May, I'm still hearing so much about this book. I mean even if you read this book in the winter, you'll think it's goddamn summer because that's just the feeling her stories invoke.

The covers speak for themselves. IT SCREAMS SUMMER FROM THE COVER. LOOK AT THAT COVER!! Fun fact: The girls on the cover of Since You've Been Gone are wearing Morgan Matson's clothes!

Not only is this book set in the summertime but it also takes place on a cruise ship. The Loose Ends List by Carrie Firestone is about Maddie's summer on an eight-week cruise ship with her over-the-top family. However, this is no ordinary cruise. It's a death-with-dignity cruise her grandmother set up after she announces that she's terminally ill and wants to spend her last days on a ship made for people who want to have a last hurrah with their loved ones.

Sure, the story is pretty morbid, but every summer needs some tragedy.
My review → here!

"With time travel, quantum physics, and a sweeping romance."

I know I'm being predictable by choosing books with 'summer' in the title but this book brings both the elements of a YA contemporary romance and magical realism. The story follows a main character who is lost in time and has a particular love for space and physics.

From several written reviews, this book has been marked as confusing and random. Regardless, this book is high on my summer TBR as the cover is gorgeous and the time travel aspect strikes me as interesting.

Anthologies are all the RAGE nowadays. Summer is the season for readathons,which means you're going to need to lighten the load. Anthologies and collections of short stories are a great way to split up the reading. Let's say you're bored with one of the novels you're reading, you can always switch it up by reading a short story!

Summer Days and Summer Nights is a collection of short summer-y stories written by some of the most popular authors and edited by Stephanie Perkins. I plan on picking this up during the Booktubeathon.

The summertime should all be about trying new things and discovering your options. I'm all for trying new things and moving into uncharted territory. LGBT is new to me since I didn't start out with reading books about these characters with different sexual orientations.

You Know Me Well isn't only a cute summer reader about two LGBT couples, but there is a strong stress on friendship. It follows Mark and Kate who spontaneously meet each other on a crazy night but find that they understand each other better than anyone else does.

The best thing about summer- the amount of time you have to read!

I don't think I've ever heard one bad thing about this trilogy. Considering how each book is 600+ pages, I never really planned on picking it up. For some reason, I have the sudden urge to drop them in my Amazon shopping cart. War in Russia and an epic romance? SIGN ME UP!

Aestas from Aesta's Book Blog actually has a very convincing post on why you should read this trilogy → here!

You'll want to read something that'll mess with your mind so you have the entire summer to think about it.

The Darkest Corners is a relatively new physiological thriller release about the lies little girls tell, and the deadly truths those lies become. There are many mixed reviews on Goodreads but that isn't stopping me from checking out the madness behind the pre-release promotional hype.

What are your ideal summer reads?

16 comments

My ideal summer read is also consist only contemporary, but since I'm not much a contemporary person, I'll mix 'em up :D The Loose End List and SDSN are also on my list to read this summer, the covers are gorgeous and they seem really fun for summer.

Oh Rachel, you've got so many great books on your plate. And yes, Morgan Matson is like the queen of contemporary. Although I think she already has that title hanging on a plaque somewhere in her room haha. Thanks for stopping by!

I loved Summer Days and Summer Nights so much! Veronica Roth's short story was literally the best. I'm actually currently reading The Unexpected Everything and loving it so far!Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

Great picks! I can't wait to read both You Know Me Well and The Loose Ends List! I loved The Unexpected Everything! My ultimate summer read is probably The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand -- set on Nantucket and goes behind the scenes of a popular restaurant, I love it!!

I need The Unexpected Everything! You know, I have NEVER read a Morgan Matson book before, so I think it is time to do so. My sister highly enjoyed The Square Root of Summer so I might try reading soon.The weather says it's summer, PERIOD. *slowly melts with 100 degree weather*

WAITTT FOR REALSIES??? I feel like you'd be the type of person to love Since You've Been Gone more. It was my first MM book and I was completely sucked in from there, but basically all of her books are fantastic. I'm afraid to read The Square Root because... physics?? I know I'm just going to be so confused!!

We've just headed into winter in Australia, but it's so cold that a summery read is just what I need Alex. The Unexpected Everything was my first Morgan Matson book and I absolutely loved it, so wonderfully written and really lovely. Thanks so much for sharing Alex, looking forward to checking a few of these out <3

Alexandria

Yingchao "Ying"

Gabrielle "Gabby"

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FTC Disclaimer

Any books that are reviewed on this site are either gifted to me, won in a giveaway, or purchased. All reviews are honest, and are not swayed by anything. I will note if the books have been gifted or won. Most pictures or clip art have been taken off of Google or somewhere else if said otherwise. Said pictures are not mine, and I do not hold ownership over them unless stated otherwise.